1942

1942

1942

1961

The Mascots, an R&B vocal quintet from Canton, Ohio, issue two singles for Syd Nathan’s King label. Soon they will rename themselves the O’Jays.

1965

The O’Jays first album, Comin’ Through, is released on Imperial Records.

1966

The O’Jays become a quartet when founding member Bill Isles leaves to concentrate on songwriting.

1966

The O’Jays’ “Stand In for Love” reaches #12 on the R&B chart, the biggest hit in their three-year run at Imperial.

1967

Having moved to the Bell label, the O’Jays score a Top Ten R&B hit with “I’ll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today).”

1969

While performing in New York, the O’Jays meet rising songwriter/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The group signs to their Neptune label, a Chess subsidiary, on which they’ll release six singles.

1971

The O’Jays become a trio when founding member Bobby Massey quits to become a record producer.

1972

The O’Jays are the first group signed to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s new Philadelphia International label.

1972

“Back Stabbers,” the title track from the O’Jays’ album of the same name, enters the singles charts. This epochal crossover hit (#1 R&B, #3 pop) will establish the Philly Soul sound.

1973

“Love Train,” by the O’Jays, enters the R&B charts. It will be the group’s biggest hit, topping both the R&B and pop charts.

1973

The hit-filled Back Stabbers, by the O’Jays, becomes the first of ten gold and platinum albums for the trio.

1973

The O’Jays’ most ambitious album, Ship Ahoy, is released. The first of four O’Jays albums to sell over a million copies, it yields “Put Your Hands Together” (#2 R&B, #10 pop) and “For the Love of Money” (#3 R&B, #9 pop).